Photo by: Jamie McCarthy/Staff
The lawsuit brought against Nicki Minaj by her husband’s accuser was voluntarily abandoned. Kenneth Petty was sentenced to four years in jail in 1995 after being convicted of attempted rape in the first degree for assaulting Jennifer Hough in 1994.
Hough’s lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, claimed that she voluntarily dropped her complaint against Minaj but will pursue her claim against Petty.
“The case against Nicki was voluntarily dismissed,” Blackburn stated.
Blackburn continued.
“The case against Kenneth Petty is still ongoing. Stay tuned!”
According to People, Hough filed the complaint against Minaj and Petty, alleging that the couple threatened to coerce her into retracting her rape allegation against Petty. According to the lawsuit, Hough was promised $20,000 to recant her claim, and her brother was later paid $500,000 if she did. Bernstein, reportedly wrote Blackburn an email in
Minaj’s lawyer, Judd Bernstein, reportedly wrote Blackburn an email. He expressed his delight that he and his client finally arrived at their senses and alluded to them as bottom-feeders. He also promised to hold Blackburn and Hough accountable.
“Your conduct in pursuing this case against Nicki represents the worst of our legal system,” Bernstein exclaimed.
Bernstein added.
“Bottom-feeding lawyers who pursue frivolous actions against a celebrity assuming that they will be paid off if they throw up enough dirt. It is just the beginning of Nicki’s and my efforts to make you pay for your disgraceful conduct with both money and, if the Court recommends it, disciplinary sanctions.”
Hough, who appeared on the daytime television show, The Real one month after the lawsuit was filed, said that Petty and Minaj had made her relive the horror of her sexual assault when she was 16.
According to the victim, the couple harassed and threatened her in an attempt to persuade her to withdraw her accusation against Petty.
She further claimed that the Queens rapper harassed her by calling her and persuading her to recant.
“He did something a long time ago, and he had consequences that he was supposed to stick with,” the victim stated.
She continued.
“What they did to me and my family wasn’t OK,” she said to the talk show hosts. “It wasn’t right, and it doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter what your status is; you can’t intimidate people to make things go better for you. And that’s what they did.”
Hough’s civil case against Petty echoed her sentiments to her appearance on The Real.
“As a direct result of the actions of Defendant Minaj and Defendant Petty, Plaintiff has been traumatized her entire life,” read the lawsuit. “Plaintiff has never felt safe since being raped by Defendant.”
Petty’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 24.
Thoughts?
Like CLEO TV on Facebook and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
